The physiological strain during a time trial

Many case reports are written about participants of various sports who
collapsed because of a heat stroke. There is a lot of information about the
cardiovasculair, metabolic and therminal strain a marathons has on the body.
But little is known about the strain a time trial has on the body and the
effects of external factors (like clothing and fluidintake) on the
thermoregulation. Participation in a marathon differ in many ways with a
participation in a time trial. So we can not just use these result on time
trial cyclists.

The goal of the study is to registrate the cardiovascular, metabolic and
thermalstrain during the participation of the WUCC time trial. Besides that we
will look at different factors, like the weather, fluidintake and clothing, who
possible have an effect on this strain. This information can be used to
identify the risks that are connected to participation in a time trial and
where possible reduce these risks.

observational study

The reseach will take place on the day of the time trial and the day before.
On both days we take 5 mls of blood through a venipuncture to determine the
sodium, potassium, hemglobine and hematocite. This common medical intervention
has no risk. The only negative consequence could be an small hematoma.
Although, the incidence is low (2 %) and doesn't give any restiction in daily
life.

The other measurements (heartrate, bloodpressure, weight, protein/glucose,
coretemperature and recording the fluidintake and change of clothing) do not
strain, uncomfort or risk for the participant in the research and will only
take a small amount of time. The measurements will be taken in a special
decorated room at the residence of cyclists and at the start/finish of the time
trial. That way the strain on the participants will be reduced to a minimum.